It’s been a busy offseason for the Dallas Cowboys, both in terms of free agency activity and (by most accounts) nailing the 2026 NFL Draft. But Super Bowl teams aren’t built in one offseason, and the Cowboys understand that they’ll need at least a couple players to take a big step this year to truly complete the roster.
These three second-year players all stand a chance of doing exactly that.
Donovan Ezeiruaku
This might be the most obvious pick, but Donovan Ezeiruaku is easily the best bet to make a second-year jump.
Ezeiruaku had 16.5 sacks his senior year at Boston College and flashed tremendous athleticism, which is why the Cowboys were initially shocked (and overjoyed) to snatch him up in the second round.
Early on in his rookie year, it became apparent just how much talent he was working with. Ezeiruaku recorded at least one pressure in all but two games all year long despite rotating frequently with his teammates, and he had seven games with 3+ pressures.
Ezeiruaku finished with just two sacks, but anyone who watched the games understands why he’s expected to blow up this year. His 12.6% pass rush win rate as a rookie was just ahead of Steelers star T.J. Watt and a good bit ahead of new teammate Rashan Gary or Seahawks stars Boye Mafe and DeMarcus Lawrence. If Ezeiruaku had played for Christian Parker’s Eagles last year, he’d have been second on the team in pass rush win rate.
Now, Ezeiruaku gets a chance to play for Parker for real, and he’s also got pass rush guru BT Jordan coaching him up. With a full offseason in an NFL weight room, along with an anticipated increase in workload, Ezeiruaku may very well end up being the Cowboys’ top edge rusher this year.
Shavon Revel
This one also shouldn’t come as a surprise, given the nature of Shavon Revel’s draft pedigree.
Once thought to be a first-round talent, Revel tore his ACL early in his senior year at East Carolina. Concerns over his recovery from such a serious injury led to Revel falling to Dallas at 76th overall, in the third round, last year. But the Cowboys gladly took the tall, long cornerback.
Revel would make his NFL debut in Week 11, and he got the start two weeks later. The numbers weren’t great for him – 67.7% completion rate, 119.7 passer rating, 14 yards per reception, and as many pass breakups (two) as touchdowns allowed – but Revel still wasn’t anywhere close to being the worst corner on the field for Matt Eberflus last year.
And there were flashes, too, of the player Revel was in college. His size and physicality offer tons of promise, and with another year removed from his ACL tear, Revel’s future feels bright. Add in the long list of defensive backs who have blossomed into stars under Parker and it’s easy to see why Revel should become a starter and key figure in this defense going forward.
Traeshon Holden
The Cowboys know who their top four receivers are going to be this year. CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens are the two names every defense knows, while KaVontae Turpin is a dangerous weapon when used properly, and Ryan Flournoy came on late in the year. Beyond those four, though, there are questions.
Parris Campbell and Jonathan Mingo were both here last year, but neither is a lock to make the roster. Tyler Johnson has traveled the league at this point, as has recent signing Marquez Valdes-Scantling. And the team took a seventh-round flyer on speedster Anthony Smith. None of these names are guaranteed to last past August, though.
Enter Traeshon Holden.
Undrafted out of Oregon last year, Holden seemed to have a decent shot at making the roster initially. His larger frame made him a big target on the outside, and Holden was recruited by Nick Saban at Alabama before transferring to the Ducks, where he worked with current Cowboys wide receivers coach Junior Adams.
Holden blossomed under Adams, too, setting career highs in his senior year. But a competitive wide receiver room in Dallas led to him spending 2025 on the practice squad. Now, though, he’s had a full year to learn the system and hone his craft. And with more room to contend for a spot, don’t be surprised if Holden is a name who keeps turning heads come training camp.
